Pest/Weed Fleet Safety – Why Should I Care?
Posted by Andrew Greess on Nov 8, 2013
Pest Control Equipment | Weed Control Equipment
Some key points from a terrific presentation at NPMA Pest World. Surprisingly, the presentation was attended mostly by fleet managers. The number of owners and users of pest control equipment & weed control equipment fleets was suprisingly low.
Why should pest, weed & landscape company owners care about fleet safety? Driving is one of the most dangerous things we do while at work.
Vehicle crashes are a leading cause of work related injuries & fatalities
Average insurance claim:
Injury: $150,000
Fatality: $3,600,000
Other impacts of vehicle crashes on your Company:
- Increased insurance costs
- Bad publicity
- Employee not available for customer service, sales, etc.
Top Causes of motor vehicle accidents:
- Distracted driving
- Driver fatigue
- Aggressive driving
- Poor driving decisions
20% of most fleet’s drivers are responsible for 80% of crashes
Some suggested controls to address fleet safety:
Order motor vehicle reports on applicants/employees
Create a fleet policy
Have a plan in place for a crash
> Accident kit (instructions, advice, tools)
> Camera to record the scene
> Someone for driver to call when an accident occurs
Create a distracted driving policy - Utilize driver tracking mechanisms
Provide regular, on-going fleet safety training
> Communicate safety expectations
> What is acceptable (crashes, tickets, etc.)
> Regular motor vehicle report reviews
> Training – defensive driving, safety policies & procedures, etc.
Vehicle selection & maintenance
The most important way to influence fleet safety?
HIRING!
Does your company require a road test for prospective employees?
I hope this helps. Comments?
Excerpted with permission from:
Steven Bojan
VP – Fleet Services
Hub International Steven.bojan@hubinternational.com